Cool Spot

"Hope you've got a lot of 7-up handy..."

Way back in the early 90's, some of my favorite TV commercials were 7-up commercials. Part of this fascination/love was due to the little red dots with sunglasses named ''Spot'' and the crazy antics they would get into when the soda guys weren't looking.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that ''Spot'' and his friends had their own game--this wonderful gem of a game!

Interested? Go grab a 7-up and read on:

Story: 10/10
Why: Quite cute, and interesting! Spot and friends are on vacation on Uncola Island, until one day, almost all the Spots mysteriously disappear, except for one. Your job is to help this Spot find all the other missing Spots scattered throughout the island. I know, it's not much, but who needs a thought provoking story on such a fun game like this?

Graphics: 10/10
Why: Spot looks just as real here as he did in those commercials of yore, if not a little less detailed. In fact, everything looks incredibly realistic, from the beach chairs you'll climb over to the crabs that will try to pinch you. It will make you feel like you're at the beach yourself!

Sound: 10/10
Why: One word: tropical! From the familiar drumbeat of ''Wipeout!'' to the guitars and steel drums on the level themes, this game goes the extra mile to make you feel like you're on the beach or an island. The level themes themselves are very upbeat and danceable, which makes the game even more enjoyable!

In terms of sound, we have waves, seagulls calling, crab claws snapping, bottle caps popping and of course, Spot's wide array of squeaks, screams and Spot-ese most anyone who's seen his commercials will recognize. It might cause some onlookers to say ''How cute!''

Controls: 10/10
Why: Very simple and straightfoward platforming goodness! The only moves you have to remember are move(D-pad), jump(B), and attack (Y). How easy can that be? What's even more amazng is the number of moves you can pull off with just those three commands! Perfect for those who don't like having to remember a zillion different buttons for a zillion different moves.

Fun Factor: 10/10
Why: A pleasing and nostalgic day at the beach for platforming fans!

Final Word:
Break out the 7-up you might have in your fridge and drink some while you play this fun little gem of a game! The great graphics, catchy music, and simple controls make for a pleasent experience for everyone, whether they like ''The Uncola'' or not.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 11/19/03